There is delicious irony in the fact it was Enner Valencia who ensured Everton started 2017 in style.

They intend to spend top four-style money this year to get closer to their Champions League dream. Yet it was an unheralded striker, who arrived on loan from West Ham in August and has started just three league games since, that turned Monday's game against Southampton around.

New major shareholder Farhad Moshiri intends to invest massively in not only the transfer market, but also a new stadium build, and it is doubtful the West Ham forward will be part of that attractive future.

Yet he showed his worth in demoralising and then destroying the clearly exhausted Saints , with a crucial opening goal on 73 minutes - his first for the club - and then winning a penalty which drained the last resources from the visitors.

While the Ecuador international’s versatility appeals to boss Ronald Koeman, he suggested the striker still has much to do to convince.

“It is too early to decide on his future. We had the possibility to get the boy on loan here at Everton, and it was a good signing for us," said Koeman.

...after he scores the breakthrough goal against Southampton... (Image: Getty)

...setting Everton on the road to an eventual 3-0 victory (Image: Getty)

“He can play a lot of different attacking positions, and give the manager a lot of possibilities to change systems. The final decision we have to make about his future? It’s still too early to think about that.

“He was important in changing the game. I think at that stage we needed something different in front, and he was one of the players who changed the game and created difficulties for Southampton.”

That was certainly no understatement from Koeman.

At 70 minutes, a lethargic contest seemed to be sleep-walking towards a soulless, goalless draw. But then Valencia arrived from the bench to transform the match.

Before then, only a half-chance for sub Kevin Mirallas and a brilliant run but flashed finish from Jay Rodriguez lifted the boredom, and a dozing crowd could not have predicted what was to follow.

Southampton played on a day's less rest and looked even more tired than the hosts (Image: Action Images via Reuters)

Essentially, the day's first goal was the winner.

Both sides looked tired, but Southampton had a day less to prepare [having played on Saturday while Everton drew with Hull the night before], and when Valencia intervened, they didn't have enough in the tank to respond.

The goal came on 73 minutes, when Lukaku combined with Barkley and then saw his header well saved by Fraser Forster, who was desperately unlucky to see the rebound flick off the Belgian striker straight to his waiting team-mate.

Saints already looked like they were on the ropes and the knockout blow arrived when Valencia won a penalty after taking the ball on the edge of the box eight minutes later, as Maya Yoshida hacked at him from behind.

Baines made it 2-0 with an Everton record-equalling penalty... (Image: Reuters)

Leighton Baines converted to equal an Everton all-time record of 23 spot-kicks for the club, alongside Trevor Steven and David Unsworth, though he had to fight off a claim from Lukaku to take it instead.

Koeman said: “Everybody likes to help Rom be Premier League top scorer and [if it was] 2-0 in the last minute I can understand. But it was still an important time, and Leighton is still first on the list, so he needed to take it.”

Lukaku though was not to be denied, with the striker taking his record to 89 Premier League goals on his 200th appearance in the competition, when he ran on to a through-ball from young Tom Davies to blast home the third.

It was unlikely but welcome, as Everton got off a massive year for the club in style.